House of Commons Hansard #171 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was rcmp.

Topics

Public SafetyOral Questions

11:25 a.m.

Conservative

The Acting Speaker Conservative Barry Devolin

Order, please.

The hon. member for Pierrefonds—Dollard.

EmploymentOral Questions

11:25 a.m.

NDP

Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe NDP Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC

Mr. Speaker, Canadians have lost their jobs to foreign workers. Migrant workers, like Chris and Jona Pineda, have had their wages stolen by their employers. Yet the minister is so confident that the employers are co-operating with the rules of the program that he believes that there is no need to conduct any onsite inspections.

After the big announcement, nothing changes. When is the minister finally going to crack down on employer abuse with real inspections?

EmploymentOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

Oak Ridges—Markham Ontario

Conservative

Paul Calandra ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Intergovernmental Affairs

Mr. Speaker, obviously, this is the government that brought in the reviews and the inspections, but when we brought this in, the NDP was concerned. Its members said “They're going to be sending in quasi-police officers”. They were against warrantless access. Now in the House, they are rising to say that they are upset that we have not had to use it.

The reason we have not had to use it is that the employers are co-operating. We continue to make inspections to make sure that the rules are being followed, and in instances where they are not being followed, we are taking action

EmploymentOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

NDP

Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe NDP Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC

Mr. Speaker, how can we trust their version of the facts when we see that something different is happening on the ground?

The Minister of Employment must be very trusting since we have learned that he is content with merely asking employers whether they are abusing the temporary foreign worker program.

If the employer says that everything is fine and that he is following all the rules, what does the minister do? He closes the file. Quite frankly, we have seen better inspectors. We understand the anger of Sandy Nelson and Shaunna Jennison-Yung, who lost their jobs to temporary foreign workers. They deserve a real investigation.

When will the government take the abuse of this program seriously?

EmploymentOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

Oak Ridges—Markham Ontario

Conservative

Paul Calandra ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Intergovernmental Affairs

Again, Mr. Speaker, as the minister said, thousands of investigations have taken place and continue to take place. There is a dedicated team at ESDC to conduct these investigations. Employers have been co-operating, but obviously, in instances where employers do not co-operate, we do have the tools in place to make sure that the rules are being followed. As we have said, if the rules are not being followed, we will ensure that employers suffer severe consequences.

EmploymentOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

NDP

Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC

Mr. Speaker, the employment numbers are nothing to celebrate.

In January, the number of full-time jobs dropped by 11,800, and most of the new jobs that were created are part-time jobs. Things are even worse for young people, who are simply giving up on trying to find work. Meanwhile, the United States is experiencing strong economic growth.

Is the Conservatives' strategy just to wait until Canada feels the effects of the American economic recovery?

EmploymentOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

North Vancouver B.C.

Conservative

Andrew Saxton ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, although monthly job numbers are volatile, we are encouraged by the growth in employment in January.

Since the depths of the global recession, almost 1.2 million net new jobs have been created. Over 80% are full-time, and an overwhelming majority of these are in the private sector in high-wage industries.

However, as long as Canadians are looking for work, our Conservative government will continue to focus on creating jobs and long-term economic prosperity. In contrast, the NDP would push risky, high-tax, and high-debt schemes that would kill Canadian jobs and hurt Canada's economy.

EmploymentOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

NDP

Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC

Mr. Speaker, all the jobs that came were part-time, precarious jobs. The economy actually lost 12,000 jobs in January, and the Conservatives call the economy spectacular. This is after 2014, when the Canadian economy grew at half the pace of the Canadian population.

Four hundred thousand lost manufacturing jobs, and Conservatives say everything is just spectacular. They continue to stick their heads in the sand.

We put forward real, concrete solutions to help the manufacturing sector and the small-business sector. When are Conservatives actually going to get to work, bring froward a budget and a plan, and help Canadians, the 1.3 million Canadians who are out of work, find their own jobs back again?

EmploymentOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

Beauce Québec

Conservative

Maxime Bernier ConservativeMinister of State (Small Business and Tourism

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to respond to my colleague's question.

Quite simply, we see that the NPD's plan will not work. Their plan requires more spending and will put Canadians further into debt. The Government of Canada's debt will be paid by these people, by workers. We know that workers need more money in their pockets to stimulate the economy.

That being said, our plan is working very well because it is creating jobs. A total of 1.2 million net new jobs have been created since the recession. We will continue in that direction in order to create jobs and lower taxes for all Canadians.

PovertyOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

NDP

Mike Sullivan NDP York South—Weston, ON

Mr. Speaker, he did not answer the question, because 12,000 full-time jobs disappearing and 47,000 new part-time jobs does not do anything to end poverty in Canada.

There are 4.8 million Canadians who struggle to make ends meet. That is one in seven Canadians. This week, the Dignity For All campaign released its plan to end poverty in Canada. It believes that if Canada commits to a plan and takes reasonable steps, the eradication of poverty is within reach.

Why is the Conservative government refusing to develop a comprehensive plan to end poverty in Canada?

PovertyOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

North Vancouver B.C.

Conservative

Andrew Saxton ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, our government has provided record support for low-income Canadians. For example, we have removed over one million low-income Canadians, 380,000 of which are seniors, from the tax rolls entirely. We have increased the amount Canadians can earn without paying taxes. We have created the landmark working income tax benefit to support low-income Canadians who do work and have increased the guaranteed income supplement for the most vulnerable Canadian seniors. The Liberals and the NDP voted against these measures and against helping low-income Canadians each and every time.

PovertyOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

NDP

Mylène Freeman NDP Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC

Mr. Speaker, the plan proposed by Dignity for All is ambitious and seeks to reduce and eliminate poverty in Canada once and for all.

In a country as rich as ours, it is inconceivable that 4.8 million Canadians are struggling to make ends meet. The plan proposes six areas for action: employment, food security, health, income security, housing and early childhood education. It is all mapped out. All that is needed is the political will to act.

Why are the Conservatives not making the fight against poverty a priority?

PovertyOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

North Vancouver B.C.

Conservative

Andrew Saxton ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, poverty reduction is a priority under our government. Under our government, the share of Canadians living in low-income families is at its lowest level in three decades. Low-income families have seen a 14% increase in their real after-tax income since 2006. Canada's progressive tax system also ensures that people with low incomes pay little to no tax. In fact, over 40% of all taxpayers pay no net tax.

It is no wonder the federal tax burden is at its lowest level in over 50 years.

InfrastructureOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Liberal

Carolyn Bennett Liberal St. Paul's, ON

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives keep trying to deny it, but they actually cut the building Canada fund by 90% and now are trying to mislead Canadians with empty promises of money years in the future.

Yesterday the big city mayors called on the federal government to immediately invest in transit, housing, and other critical infrastructure. It is time for the Conservatives to do their part to make livable, humane, affordable cities.

Will the government flow the increased infrastructure money this year to improve quality of life, create jobs, and spur economic growth?

InfrastructureOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Kitchener—Waterloo Ontario

Conservative

Peter Braid ConservativeParliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure and Communities

Mr. Speaker, that member is misleading the House.

Our government's investments in infrastructure are three times greater than the previous Liberal government. These investments are building roads, highways, and bridges. They are expanding public transit.

What would the opposition do? It would hike taxes, run deficits, and leave a burden of debt to our kids and grandkids.

InfrastructureOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Liberal

Francis Scarpaleggia Liberal Lac-Saint-Louis, QC

Mr. Speaker, we know that the Conservatives cut the building Canada fund by 90%, and that was before the drop in oil prices revealed the government's blatant lack of economic vision.

Now that the government faces the revenue shortfall that comes from putting all of its eggs in one basket, should cities and towns in Quebec, where the winter freeze is playing havoc yet again this year with old water infrastructure, be bracing for even further cuts to the investments they so urgently need to support their communities?

InfrastructureOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Kitchener—Waterloo Ontario

Conservative

Peter Braid ConservativeParliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure and Communities

Mr. Speaker, one of the key pillars of the new building Canada plan is the gas tax fund.

Here is what our government has done with respect to the gas tax fund: We have doubled it. We have made it permanent. We are indexing it moving forward.

The municipalities receive over $2 billion a year just through gas tax transfer funding. That funding is making a difference today, in every municipality across this great country.

InfrastructureOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Liberal

Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS

Mr. Speaker, communities across Atlantic Canada have urgent infrastructure needs: water and sewer, transit and housing, roads and bridges.

They are looking for the federal government to be a partner. The Conservatives' response is to cut funding, from $2 billion last year, to $210 million this year and next. We need investment now, not in 2020.

Why do the Conservatives refuse to partner with municipalities to generate economic growth and help middle-class families?

InfrastructureOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Kitchener—Waterloo Ontario

Conservative

Peter Braid ConservativeParliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure and Communities

Mr. Speaker, I know that the Liberals have been out of government for some period of time.

I would be pleased to sit down with any member of the Liberal caucus to brief them on the new building Canada plan and to refresh them on how government accounting and the estimates process works.

This Conservative government is making record investments in infrastructure: $2 billion in gas tax funding flowing to municipalities today. As we speak, under the new building Canada plan, already projects estimated at $5 billion have been identified.

VeteransOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

NDP

Hélène LeBlanc NDP LaSalle—Émard, QC

Mr. Speaker, Master Corporal Paul Franklin lost both of his legs in an explosion in Afghanistan.

Every year, he is required to produce a medical certificate to prove to the department that he has lost his legs. Twice, his wheelchair has been taken away. That is surreal. Master Corporal Franklin is still fighting, not in Afghanistan, but here, for proper treatment of his case and those of other veterans.

When will the minister finally intervene?

VeteransOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Glengarry—Prescott—Russell Ontario

Conservative

Pierre Lemieux ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs

Mr. Speaker, when the minister was first appointed, he worked very closely with the department, and he directed them to reduce forms and processes and obstacles to our veterans who would be applying for benefits. He wants less red tape for our veterans.

I also want to point out to the House that the minister reached out personally to the person who was identified in this question.

VeteransOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

NDP

Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON

Mr. Speaker, veterans are still waiting, and they should not be forced every year to prove the obvious, that they are still missing limbs.

It should not take national attention for the government to realize that this burden of proof is wrong. Whether it is spending $700,000 to fight veterans in court or denying that they have a sacred obligation to veterans, the Conservatives still do not get it.

Will the government stop its policy of requiring veterans to perennially prove that they have lost their limbs?

VeteransOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Glengarry—Prescott—Russell Ontario

Conservative

Pierre Lemieux ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs

Mr. Speaker, I just responded to that question

Let me just point out a few other things. By reducing red tape and backroom bureaucratic expenses at Veterans Affairs Canada, veterans are benefiting.

I would point out, for example, that 90% of the budget at Veterans Affairs Canada actually goes to delivering services to veterans and their families, as opposed to paying for all of these backroom administrative costs. I would also point out that it is our government that is opening nine new offices to deliver new mental health services to veterans across the country.

TaxationOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

NDP

Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON

Mr. Speaker, for a single working mum, child care means being able to work. For struggling middle-class families, child care costs are breaking their budget.

Conservatives were elected on a promise to create 125,000 child care spaces, but they broke that promise to Canadian parents. Conservatives created zero spaces.

Families who cannot access affordable child care do not have a choice. Why are the Conservatives turning their backs on affordable child care?

TaxationOral Questions

11:40 a.m.

Oak Ridges—Markham Ontario

Conservative

Paul Calandra ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Intergovernmental Affairs

Mr. Speaker, as the member will recall, when we took office we started to reverse the legacy of transfer payment cuts left behind by the Liberals, some $50 billion in cuts. We started to reverse that, and the money that was sent to our provincial partners created in excess of 260,000 child care spaces.

We are going even further by introducing the universal child care benefit, providing families with $100. That is now increasing to $160 for children under the age of six, but going even a step further, $60 for those kids who are between 6 and 17. We have increased the deduction for child care expenses by $1,000.